Judas and the Black Messiah – Review

This true story opens in the late 1960s. The Black Panther Party for Self Defense was formed in 1966 by college students Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. By 1968, Newton was in jail over a shootout (with the verdict later reversed), and Seale continued his activism, but also was jammed up by authorities over time.

The first thing the party did when formed was to provide armed protection and patrols that made sure police could not intimidate or harass black individuals. They also offered a free medical clinic, food handouts, and more for the surrounding people, while trying to educate and enrich the community. This enraged powerful white men.

In 1968, William O’Neal (Stanfield) impersonates an FBI Agent flashing a fake badge as he walks into a bar full of black patrons. He tricks a man out of his car keys in order to steal his red Pontiac GTO which sat outside. This briefly works until O’Neal himself is pulled over by a real cop. Things do not go well for Bill, who winds up offered a choice by FBI Agent Roy Mitchell (Plemons): 18 months for the stolen car, 5 years for federal officer impersonation, or… he can go home. What’s the catch??

Deputy Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party at this point was a young man named Fred Hampton (Kaluuya). Hampton delivers righteous and spirited speeches to the local community to drive donations and membership. Growing knowledge and outreach to impacted communities continues to be a party goal. As Fred teaches a class, suddenly there is a familiar face among the pupils… Bill O’Neal.

As Bill begins rising in the ranks, Fred notices him as a member of growing interest. Bill however… well, he is reporting info to the FBI as an informant. This creates a moral dilemma for O’Neal, who is selling out his own people. That being said, it is clear he has minimal ethics, as he was more than happy to fool and steal from this same community.

Judas and the Black Messiah is an interesting and extremely well-done feature. Despite its 60s setting, most every theme surfaced in the film still applies to society today. The careful script puts a spotlight on all sorts of rights and wrongs in the country, and what political movements can do to those in power.

The performances in this film are fantastic, which was necessary for the sharply written and refined script. The cast is great and full of competent players as well as rising stars. The director keeps shots fresh and the plot beats moving along quickly. It never drags and maintains full steam through its conclusion. This film examines an important time in history and many real events with care. It should be seen.